Since I went so long since my last post to my most recent, I decided maybe it was time for a run down of how it all happened:
To start, I was that small percentage that actually had their water break. For some reason, I always knew it would. Kind of how I knew Trent was a boy the day I peed on the stick. Just a gut instinct. Well, at 11:30 at night just moments after my husband crawled into bed, I jumped up out of a deep sleep and my water broke. I was so shocked that I just stood there for a moment dumbfounded while I felt like I was peeing myself. I most definitely was NOT though.
Thanks to careful preparation, by 12:00 the calls had been made and we were in the car to drop off A at my friend's house. The main gate to the Naval Hospital was closed for construction, so we had to drive to the back gate and loop back around adding an extra 20 minutes to our drive. At 12:30 a.m. my contractions were started. Fortunately no one was there so we got prime parking. My husband dutifully asked if I needed a wheelchair, but I insisted I would hold my dignity and waddle in myself... in between contractions. By the time I stripped down I was a wet mess (sorry for the visual). I had pretty much soaked right through my pad.
The nurse pleasantly asked me my pain management choices. I asked how far I was. She happily said a 2! I was writhing in pain on the bed barely able to remember to breathe (so much for those classes) so I thought no way could I possibly go hours like this. I was no champ. I was a wimp. W. I. M. P. and proud to admit. I said EPIDURAL! They slowly had me walk to my birthing suite (which was massive by the way). I had to wait for the anesthesiologist, but even worse I had to deal with a newbie Corpsman who was having a hell of a time putting an IV in my hand. And I was a model labor patient staying as still as humanly possible. I have no idea what his problem was, but I'm concerned for him. They gave me a shot in my IV and I could immediately relax. It wasn't complete pain relief, but it sure did help.
By 1:30 a.m. they checked me and I was at 6 cm. Holy cow! That explains why it hurts so much! I laugh and my husband keeps me laughing and joking. Now, at this point is where I wish I had made different choices. Before I got the epidural, I should have asked them to check me again since I was dilating so far so fast. Had I done that, I would have found out I was 9 cm before they started the epi. Instead I found out after they finished that I was 9. I went from a 2 to a 9 in 2 hours, 3 if you include the time my water broke, but I didn't feel contractions until about 30 minutes in. I stalled progression and didn't get to 10 until about 5 a.m. They gave me 30 minutes of rest (I still couldn't feel a thing) and then I started pushing.
Now comes another real big error, this one not on my part. I pushed for 4 hours. YES, 4 HOURS. They had a shift change half way through my pushing and somewhere, someone screwed up. The doctor came in (we were familiar with each other since I was gestational diabetic and could only see certain doctors) and said that since T was sunny side up, he was not going to fit through my pelvis. I was horrified. I couldn't believe this was happening. I immediately resolved to tears. She said that his head was showing signs of swelling and she had to highly recommend a c-section. Again, tears and crying. I laid back and as they told me that I would be prepped for surgery, I asked if I could push my epidural button which had laid forgotten during my 4 hours of pushing. They said yes. They should have said no.
I was given an injection in my back to make everything numb. What happens from this point on was a complete nightmare. I started shaking from the strong anesthesia. I was freezing from the inside out, but they had to keep me mostly uncovered for the surgery. As soon as they pulled my son out, I started getting sensation back. I started to panic, but tried to keep it in. My husband followed our son to the nursery and I turned to the anesthesiologist next to me and asked to be put out. The drugs to numb me we wearing off and the new ones weren't fast enough. I was practically hysterical. He told me I might not remember seeing my son for the first time (I do), and I said I would chance it. What he didn't tell me was he gave me a calming drug too. Now I have 2 different anesthesia's and another drug besides. My son was born at 10 a.m. I woke up for the first time at 2 p.m. I could barely talk and form words as my mind was so muddled. I almost threw up on the poor Corpsman (whose name I insisted upon knowing, even though it took me 2 minutes to form the sentence "What is your name?"). I am still grateful to that corpsman for his behavior and attitude. He was very pleasant even though I was a complete mess.
Unfortunately I would stay like this for a few days. I had a hard time listening to the nurses and doctors because my mind couldn't focus. Breastfeeding was almost immediately a no-go because I could barely hold my son. We chose to bottle feed as I could not get Trent to latch. To this day he will almost never drink a bottle without stopping at some point. I am proud to say that I chose to pump. I pumped for 3 weeks before my supply dropped and I was unable to feed him more than a bottle or two a day.
I have been blessed with a happy, healthy baby boy who loves to try to stand on his own, but not sit. He has slept through the night since 7 weeks. He smiles and is so happy to see us every morning. He is the most popular baby at day care. Everyone in the CDC knows his name and who he is. We had a rough time bringing him into the world, but it has been the best thing to ever happen to me. I would not change a thing that happened, because I would never want to change him.
My advice to expectant mothers is to be informed. In the heat of the moment it is so very hard to remember everything you have learned. I took the Lamaze classes alone since husband had to work. If I had made flashcards or at least a paper with some notes on it, I might have made some different decisions. Instead I let the doctors dictate everything without question.
Also, when it comes to the Postpartum, stand firm and stand your ground. They tried to talk my husband and I out of getting our son circumcised. As far as I'm concerned, it is a personal choice and not one that should be attacked. We had made our choice clear from the start (it's in your admission packet for Naval) and they were still very rude about it.
Be informed and enjoy the ride.
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